Where can I get a pet scanned for a microchip? (UK)

• Vets. Most practices scan a found pet free of charge, but ring first to check.
• Your council's dog warden, for dogs. If you've found a stray dog and can't reach the owner, you must tell the council anyway.
• Rescue centres and animal charities, such as Cats Protection for cats.

The scanner shows the chip's number, usually 15 digits long. The vet, warden or rescue looks up which database the chip is registered on and contacts it, and the database gets in touch with the owner.

Anyone can check which database holds a chip by entering the number on Check a Chip.

Our guide for when you find a lost dog or cat covers the rest, including keeping them safe while you look for the owner.

1. Check the collar first. A tag with a phone number, or a QR code you can scan with your phone, may let you reach the owner straight away.
2. Ring a vet or rescue centre and take the pet in to be scanned.
3. If it's a dog, tell your council too, even if you're getting it scanned.
4. If there's no chip, or the details are out of date, make a found pet poster and post in local lost and found groups.

PDSA says microchips very rarely fail. If one does stop working, the manufacturer will usually replace it free of charge, and your vet can put the new chip in alongside the old one.

It's worth asking your vet to scan your pet now and then, for example at a check-up, and checking the number matches your records. If you're not sure which database your pet is on, look the number up on Check a Chip, then update your details if anything has changed.

A scanner means a trip to a vet or a call to the council. A tag can be read on the spot by whoever finds your pet: an engraved tag shows your name and address, and a QR tag lets them contact you straight away.